Just opened at 204 Smith Street in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, Rua Thai celebrates the famed floating markets of Thailand, where vendors offer food, handicrafts and souvenirs from traditional wooden boats afloat on khlongs (canals).
Chef and co-owner Kornpon Theeraumpornkul grew up in the province of Ratchaburi in central Thailand, home to Damnoen Saduak, one of the largest and most famous floating markets in the country. Rua (rowboat in Thai) pays homage to the markets and his family, who sold food like fish curry custard, herbed fish salad and shrimp donuts at the market and also grew sugarcane, which he likes to incorporate in his cooking, as well as cocktails.
Having learned to cook from his grandmother as a teenager, Chef Kornpon used his skills working in restaurants when he moved to study in New York at 18. After discovering his passion for cooking professionally and almost 20 years working in restaurants like Prem-on Thai and Yum Yum, he is opening his first restaurant with a few co-owners who have all met and worked together at Yum Yum and other restaurants in NYC.
The menu features dishes that combine family tradition with innovation and playful presentation like Fish Curry Custard minced fish with curry paste steamed in small cups; crispy panko covered Shrimp Donuts stacked on a sugarcane stick; Mama Tom Yum Grilled River Prawns served over sauteed tom yum flavored ramen noodles flowing out of a Mama brand cup filled with vegetables; Massaman Short Rib, six-hour braised short rib with potatoes, onion, and chestnuts in a thick coconut massaman curry accompanied by blue butterfly pea jasmine rice; Pla Tod Numpla crispy whole branzino with mango salad; Pineapple Seafood Fried Rice with shrimp, mussels and calamari in a hollowed out pineapple; and Kai Tod Had Yai, the most popular southern Thai style fried chicken served with massaman curry dip and roti bread.
Cocktails by bartender Dolporn Thongneam (formerly of SEA, Spice, and Ayada) are named for different districts in the Ratchaburi province where Chef Kornpon grew up, including Damnoen Saduak with tequila, elderberry kombucha and lime; Pho Ta Ram (a district in northern Ratchaburi known for its rich vegetation) made with vodka, melon liqueur, and pineapple juice; and Chom Bueng (an area known for its many caves) a smoked drink with whisky, honey syrup, lime juice, sour mix and lemongrass. Zero-proof options include Butterfly Pea Lychee Soda with butterfly pea juice, lychee syrup and soda.
The 48-seat restaurant features a six-seat bar and communal table up front, photos of Thai floating markets on exposed brick walls, gold leaf lettering used in Thai temples, chandeliers, and authentic touches like traditional triangle pillows used on daybeds. Rua Thai is open at 204 Smith Street in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn NY. The restaurant will be open daily 11:30am – 10:30pm daily.
